Chatting with Nicholas Paine, the man pulling the strings at Dead Puppet Society
Nicholas Paine, executive producer at Dead Puppet Society (DPS), discovered his love of art and theatre in Grade 3 at Mooloolaba State School. During a visit from the Queensland Arts Council, Nicholas witnessed his first live theatre experience – a puppetry show that still lives on vividly in his mind. He’s been hooked on design-led theatre ever since …
Nicholas Paine and David Moreton dreamed up Dead Puppet Society in 2009 during a third-year QUT class. The task? Propose a company that filled a gap in the market. The pair began envisioning a design-focused theatre production company after bonding over their shared appreciation for the work of Julie Taymor (The Lion King) and Handspring Puppet Company (War Horse).
“We pitched Dead Puppet Society and here we are 16 years later,” Nicholas says.
Nicholas now holds a Bachelor of Creative Industries (2009) and a Master of Creative Industries (2011). His work at DPS has taken him far and wide – including the Natural History Museum in London, for a five-month season of the production The Wider Earth, which earned a visit from Harry and Meghan, and stands out as one of Nicholas’ proudest achievements. But on home soil is where Nicholas and the DPS team has been making its greatest strides.
Nicholas credits his time at QUT (where he earned a Bachelor of Creative Industries in 2009 and a Master of Creative Industries in 2011) with instilling in him the importance of entrepreneurship and collaboration. These principles inspire his approach to business and production in the creative industries today.
DPS showcases this sense of innovation with its fusion of new technologies with old-school craftsmanship – think ensemble storytelling integrated with newer methods including laser cutting, 3D printing, projection and robotics.
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Nicholas and the DPS team prioritise collaboration alongside innovation, fostering it through THE DPS LAB – a theatrical showcase for the next generation of theatre designers. At the end of August, the DPS LAB 2025 event will welcome the work DPS Academy artists Margi Brown Ash, Annabel Gilbert, Grace Longwill, Sarah Esser and Charles Ball.
“We’re committed to not only seeing our work appear on stage, but the work of other artists. THE DPS LAB showcases excerpts of new works, and we’ve seen those works go on to have full seasons around town,” Nicholas says.
Nicholas doesn’t stop at championing the work of established artists, though – he’s also passionate about fostering new makers and imparting his love of creation on others. In September, Dead Puppet Society will be hosting three nights of Sculptures & Sips, a design experience available to the public. Guests paint, construct and laser-cut their own seascape at DPS’ fabrication workshop to experience first-hand the dedication to craftsmanship at play.
DPS has also been hard at work building a fully booked schedule for the rest of the year. Just last week, Nicholas and his team opened new production WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!, which was written by Maddie Nixon and performed at La Boite Theatre. The horror monster comedy addresses the issue of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and asks, ‘What if it was alive?’ Meanwhile, DPS has been collaborating with Queensland Ballet and Amelia Waller on her piece for Bespoke, a puppetry/dance collaboration that Nicholas is particularly excited about.
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It’s not always easy being the one pulling the strings, though. The lack of resources and funding is an inevitable challenge in the arts industry, which Nicholas says requires creative solutions.
“We continue to overcome this daily by diversifying our offering and appealing to a broad audience. We’re always thinking of ways to keep the work fresh, so that audiences feel like they’re getting an entirely different offering every time they see one of our shows,” Nicholas says.
DPS has also diversified its revenue streams to raise funds. This has included government and private funding, commercial investment and ticket sales productions, workshops and sculpture sales.
It’s this continued hard work and dedication to the arts that earned Nicholas Paine recognition at the InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards in 2024. Nicholas said it was a great honour to be awarded in the city and community that he loves so much.
“It gave me a platform to connect with other leaders from different industries and even talk to them about supporting our work through philanthropy,” Nicholas says.
Nicholas’ steadfast passion for community directly links to his love for Brisbane. What he likes most about Brisbane is that it is a city still growing and establishing a name for itself.
“As we race towards the Olympics in 2032, being part of the cultural fabric here is a thrill. We’re no longer a big country town but a city capable of showcasing our uniqueness and talent to the world,” Nicholas says.
The InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards program is helping to bring attention to a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in the state. This year’s 40 Under 40 will be announced at the gala awards dinner on Thursday August 21. Purchase tickets here.